Preview: Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders - prediction, team news, lineups

Dallas will hope to get back to winning ways at home when they play host to the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday at Toyota Stadium.

On Saturday, the Toros dropped a 2-0 decision to Sporting Kansas City, while Seattle scored early and often in Portland, clobbering the Timbers 6-2.

Match preview

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On Saturday, Dallas were stunned by an early goal 12 minutes in against the Western Conference leaders and could not find a breakthrough as they lost for the first time in their last five encounters.

It was their first defeat at home this year, and although they failed to earn any points, Luchi Gonzalez has to be pleased with how hard his team fought to get back into that game, as they pressed for an equaliser in the second half but could not solve Tim Melia.

That loss was a minor blemish in what has been an impressive stretch of outings for Dallas of late, as they are right back in the playoff race in the Western Conference, currently just two points behind the Portland Timbers for that final spot.

Dallas conceded six shots on target to KC on Saturday, but unlike a few weeks ago, the Wizards made them pay this weekend with two goals, while Dallas could only register two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Before they embark on a three-game road trip, they would like to get back in the win column against a team that they played well against earlier this month, drawing the Rave Green 1-1.

This team have only lost one of their last seven home games to the Sounders and have done a good job shutting down their attack, maintaining four clean sheets over that stretch.

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Over the past few weeks, we have been wondering when we will see the real Seattle Sounders show up, and we got our answer last weekend, much to the chagrin of the Portland Timbers.

If you only saw the scoreboard at the end of the game on Sunday, you might assume that it was a one-sided affair, but the victory was not as easy as it seemed.

Sounders keeper Stefan Cleveland was peppered with shots and quality scoring opportunities in the opening half, and if not for his heroics, it could have been a very different game.

Brian Schmetzer saw his team eventually come to life, and when they did, it was curtains for the Timbers as Seattle were lethal in the final third, scoring on six of their eight shots on target.

The reigning Western Conference champions are starting to get their regulars back from injury, and they were eager to make up for the time missed on Saturday.

Seattle have won their last two road fixtures after going winless in their previous two, and that has put them right back in the thick of the race for the top spot in the conference, trailing KC by a single point.

Team News

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Beni Redzic remains out for Dallas with an ankle sprain, Justin Che has a lower leg injury and Johnny Nelson is nursing a back problem.

This past weekend, defender Matt Hedges returned to the starting lineup for the first time since May 22, replacing Bressan, who started in their previous match, while Edwin Cerrillo replaced Andres Ricaurte in midfield.

On Saturday, Jimmy Maurer faced six shots, conceding twice, while Ricardo Pepi is looking for his first goal since scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy back on July 24.

Sounders striker Raul Ruidiaz retook pole position in the Golden Boot race with his 11th and 12th goals of the season on Sunday, while Fredy Montero notched a brace himself in the victory as he now has three goals in his last two games in all competitions.

Nicolas Benezet scored his first goal of the season last weekend in injury time, while Schmetzer went with the same starting 11 as he did for their Leagues Cup victory over Tigres UANL.

The list of injuries for Seattle is starting to decrease, but Jordan Morris remains out with an ACL injury, Jordy Delem has an ACL tear, Stefan Frei is out with a left knee sprain/ blood clot and Nouhou Tolo is questionable with a left abductor strain.

Dallas possible starting lineup:
Maurer; Twumasi, Burgess, Martinez, Hollingshead; Obrian, Acosta, Schon, Pomykal; Pepi, Jara

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Cleveland; O'Neill, Arreaga, Gomez; Smith, Bruin, Rowe, A. Roldan; Lodeiro, C. Roldan; Ruidiaz

We say: Dallas 1-3 Seattle Sounders

Both sides have plenty to play for at the moment, as Dallas could potentially move into a playoff position with a victory while the Sounders could move back into first place in the conference.

Unfortunately for Dallas, Seattle are getting healthier, and their slumbering offence has woken up with nine goals in their last two matches in all competitions, so as good as the Toros have been lately, they do not have the pace or firepower to stay with a team like the Sounders.